As Byron Buxton goes, the Minnesota Twins tend to go.
That could be good news for the Twins as they take on the Houston Astros in the rubber match of a three-game series Sunday afternoon in Minneapolis. Houston captured the series opener on Friday before Minnesota bounced back to win on Saturday.
Buxton played a big role in the 6-1 win Saturday as he keyed a six-run inning that put the Twins on top for good. He was hit by a pitch, stole second and came around to score on an error to tie the score at 1-1.
“He’s a jump-starter,” Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said of Buxton. “He always gets something going and makes something happen. Because he can force the issue. He doesn’t always have to wait for the game to come to him and take what he can get. He can actually just make things happen on the field.”
Buxton said he loved giving his team a jolt.
“I wouldn’t say I’m the ‘Energizer Bunny,'” Buxton said. “But when it starts, it kind of comes in bunches. So I think that goes for whoever would have started that.”
The Astros hope to kick their offense into gear in Sunday’s contest. Houston was held to one run for the third time in eight games this season.
Astros manager Joe Espada said he wants his players to stay confident at the plate.
“Their pitching is tough, and we’re missing our pitches,” Espada said. “We have the ability to cut those down, and we will. I like the fact that we’re getting people on base, we’ve just got to find a way to get the big hit.”
Astros right-hander Ronel Blanco (0-1, 5.40 ERA) will take the mound for his second start. He gave up three runs on three hits in five innings against the San Francisco Giants in his season debut on Monday, a 7-2 loss.
Blanco has pitched in two games (one start) against the Twins in his career. He is 0-1 with a 12.71 ERA in those outings, and he has allowed eight runs in 5 2/3 innings.
Twins right-hander Chris Paddack (0-1, 24.30) also is set to make his second start. He is looking to bounce back from a rough season debut in which he allowed nine runs on six hits — including three homers — and four walks in 3 1/3 innings against the Chicago White Sox.
This will be Paddack’s second career start against the Astros. In his first appearance, he finished with a no-decision and gave up three runs on six hits in six innings while pitching for the San Diego Padres in 2021.
Both teams are going for their second series win of the season.
Jose Miranda figures to earn another start in the Twins lineup after he clubbed his first homer on Saturday. The three-run shot marked his first homer since last July.
Miranda said he was surprised when he saw the statistic flash across a clubhouse TV.
“It said my last home run was July 5,” Miranda said. “I was like, ‘Really?’ It was way longer than I thought.”
Now Miranda is feeling good, and the Twins are hoping their offensive woes are behind them.
“Sometimes, you get in stretches like that,” Miranda said. “We just kept pushing, made some adjustments, (tried to) see what works and what doesn’t. We stayed with it. There are so many ups and downs in this game, and sometimes you go through a rough spot.”
–Field Level Media
